kita / kami
Inclusive and Exclusive We
Indonesian has two words for 'we'. Kita includes the person you are talking to (Inclusive), while kami excludes them (Exclusive).
How It Works
In English, the word 'we' is ambiguous. If you say 'We are going to the beach,' it isn't clear if the listener is invited. Indonesian solves this by using two distinct pronouns that can mean 'we', 'us', or 'our' depending on their position in the sentence:
- Kita (Inclusive): Includes the speaker + the listener. Use this when the person you are talking to is involved.
- Kami (Exclusive): Includes the speaker + others, but excludes the listener. Use this when telling someone about your group's activities that they aren't part of.
When these pronouns follow a noun, they indicate possession ('our'), such as in rumah kita (our house—including you) or rumah kami (our house—not yours). Unlike -ku or -mu, they do not have shortened suffix forms.
Religious and Formal Nuances:
In religious contexts, kami is almost always used when addressing God in prayer, as the speaker is part of a human group that excludes the Divine listener. Conversely, in formal political speeches, leaders often use kita rhetorically to foster a sense of national unity and collective identity, even if the specific action only involves the government.
Register and Usage:
In formal contexts, the distinction is strictly maintained. However, in casual Jakartan Indonesian, kita is often used for both meanings. In these intimate settings, using kami can sometimes sound stiff.
Note: In some regional dialects, you may hear variations like kitorang. Additionally, in specific slang contexts, kita is occasionally used as a singular pronoun meaning 'I'.
Examples (5)
- Mari kita makan sekarang.
Let's eat now.
Word by Word: Let us (inclusive) eat now.
Using 'kita' here means the speaker is inviting the listener to eat together with them.
- Kami tidak bisa datang ke pesta Anda.
We cannot come to your party.
Word by Word: We (exclusive) not can come to party your.
Using 'kami' excludes the listener (the party host) from the group that is unable to attend.
- Ini adalah rumah kami.
This is our house.
Word by Word: This is house our (exclusive).
Using 'kami' indicates the house belongs to the speaker's family/group, but not to the person they are talking to.
- Kapan kita pergi ke Bali?
When shall we go to Bali?
Word by Word: When we (inclusive) go to Bali?
Using 'kita' implies a shared plan between the speaker and the listener.
- Budi, ini foto kami saat di Bali.
Budi, this is a photo of us in Bali.
Word by Word: Budi, this photo our (exclusive) time at Bali.
The speaker uses 'kami' because Budi was not in the photo and was not part of that specific trip.
Common Mistakes
Placing kami before the possessed noun.
Ini kami rumah.Ini rumah kami.For our house, put kami after rumah. Kami excludes the listener in the standard contrast; kita includes them. Colloquial kita may have broader uses, so do not interpret every conversational kita as literally including the addressee.
Thinking 'kami' is just a formal version of 'kita'.
Mari kami pergi!Mari kita pergi!Even in formal settings, if you want to include the listener in an action, you must use 'kita'. 'Kami' is not a 'polite' version; it is a 'listener-excluding' version.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- sayaNeutral First-person Saya
The neutral first-person singular pronoun, often used in the same formal contexts as 'kami'.
Level 1 - akuFamiliar First-person Aku
The familiar first-person singular pronoun used in casual settings where 'kita' might also be used loosely.
Level 1 - merekaThird-person Plural Mereka
The third-person plural pronoun ('they'), which, like 'kita' and 'kami', does not have a shortened suffix form.
Level 1 - mari / ayoInclusive Invitations
These invitation particles are almost always paired with 'kita' because they suggest a shared action.
Level 1 - Possession by juxtaposition
Both 'kita' and 'kami' follow the noun to show possession (e.g., 'mobil kita' vs 'mobil kami').
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice kita / kami in Bubblegum
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